Let me introduce myself...

Well, here we go.  After almost two decades of struggling with my health and trying just about every diet plan out there (some sensible, some utter nonsense), I think I may have finally gotten it right.

I'm a 30 year-old legal professional living in Toronto, Canada.  I have a wonderful family, a fantastic husband (no kids), a rewarding job, great friends - but my health at the moment is pretty much shite.  There are a few problems that I'm battling at the moment including metabolic syndrome and polycystic ovarian syndrome.  Most if not all of my health issues are associated with weight.  It's hard to know who or what to blame for all of this drama. Figuring out whether weight led to the health problems or whether the health problems led to the weight is like the chicken-egg debate (personally I say chicken, but that's another story).  But after about 20 years of turning in circles, my doctor and I have pretty much had enough.

My family doctor (who honestly isn't the sharpest tool in the shed but God bless her heart) told me about a doctor who operates in the Greater Toronto Area that specializes in treating patients who are struggling with their weight along with weight-related health issues. His name is Dr. Poon.

You have to have secondary health issues along with weight problems and you have to be referred to him by a doctor before you even get through the door.  Seems kind of strange to have to "audition" for a specialist by demonstrating how messed up your health is.  I guess I'm well and truly messed up because I got my phone call for my first visit only a week after my doctor sent the referral letter to Dr. Poon's office.  Nice.

There are two great things about this plan for me: 

• One - it is covered by our provincial health care plan, so the plan itself won't cost me a dime. Canada rocks! I'm sure there's going to be supplements and snacks and stuff that I can purchase through the doctor, but we'll see whether those things are even worth it.
• Two - each person's diet plan is customized to their individual problems.  For example, I won't have the same diet plan as a guy who's dealing with high blood pressure and sleep apnea (I have none of those things).  Looove the customized approach.

There are, of course, some things I'm stressing out about: 

• One - since this is a provincially-funded plan, there is no shortage of people trying to see this doctor so they probably won't hesitate to boot my ass out if I cheat or play around too much with the plan. 
• Two - Christmas is coming up.  How am I going to go without the Christmas yummies? 
• Three - what if I'm hungry all the time and end up like one of those crazy women who carry around little chocolate bars in their purses and eat them on the sly like it's contraband? 
• Four - nobody I know is going through anything like this, so I have no real support group.

That's why I've decided to blog about my journey on the Dr. Poon Diet.  I'm sure there are lots of other people who are going through this and don't have anyone to share it with.  It's also going to be really helpful for me to blog about what I love and what I hate on this crazy journey.  I'll share things that work really well and warn you about things that drove me nuts. 

My first appointment is in a week - November 30.  I'm nervous, but so excited.  So I'm going to live it up this week because who knows when I'll be able to indulge in chocolate pecan cookies again.  Next post will go up after I see the good doctor for the first time.  Wish me luck!